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Tentación de Jesús(A)

Luego Jesús fue llevado por el Espíritu al desierto, para ser tentado por el diablo.(B) Después de haber ayunado cuarenta días y cuarenta noches, tuvo hambre. El tentador se le acercó, y le dijo: «Si eres Hijo de Dios, di que estas piedras se conviertan en pan.» Jesús respondió: «Escrito está: No sólo de pan vive el hombre, sino de toda palabra que sale de la boca de Dios.»(C) Entonces el diablo lo llevó a la santa ciudad, lo puso sobre la parte más alta del templo, y le dijo: «Si eres Hijo de Dios, lánzate hacia abajo; porque escrito está:

»“A sus ángeles mandará alrededor de ti”,(D)

y también:

“En sus manos te sostendrán,
Para que no tropieces con piedra alguna.”»(E)

Jesús le dijo: «También está escrito: “No tentarás al Señor tu Dios”.»(F) De nuevo el diablo lo llevó a un monte muy alto. Allí le mostró todos los reinos del mundo y sus riquezas, y le dijo: «Todo esto te daré, si te arrodillas delante de mí y me adoras.» 10 Entonces Jesús le dijo: «Vete, Satanás, porque escrito está: “Al Señor tu Dios adorarás, y a él sólo servirás.”»(G) 11 Entonces el diablo lo dejó, y unos ángeles vinieron y lo servían.

Jesús principia su ministerio(H)

12 Cuando Jesús se enteró de que Juan estaba preso,(I) volvió a Galilea, 13 pero se retiró de Nazaret y se estableció en Cafarnaún,(J) ciudad marítima en la región de Zabulón y de Neftalí, 14 para que se cumpliera lo dicho por el profeta Isaías:

15 «Tierra de Zabulón y tierra de Neftalí,
Camino del mar, al otro lado del Jordán,
Galilea de los gentiles;
16 El pueblo asentado en tinieblas vio gran luz;
a los que vivían en región de sombra de muerte,
les resplandeció la luz.»(K)

17 Desde entonces Jesús comenzó a predicar, y decía: «Arrepiéntanse, porque el reino de los cielos(L) se ha acercado.»(M) 18 Mientras Jesús caminaba junto al lago de Galilea, vio a dos hermanos, Simón, llamado Pedro, y Andrés, que estaban echando la red al agua, pues eran pescadores. 19 Jesús les dijo: «Síganme, y yo haré de ustedes pescadores de hombres.» 20 Ellos entonces, dejando al instante las redes, lo siguieron. 21 Un poco más adelante, Jesús vio a otros dos hermanos, Jacobo y Juan, hijos de Zebedeo, quienes estaban en la barca, junto a su padre, y remendaban sus redes. Jesús los llamó, 22 y ellos, dejando al instante la barca y a su padre, lo siguieron.

23 Jesús recorría toda Galilea. Enseñaba en las sinagogas de ellos, predicaba el evangelio del reino, y sanaba toda enfermedad y toda dolencia en el pueblo.(N) 24 Su fama se difundió por toda Siria, así que le llevaron a todos los que tenían dolencias, a los que sufrían de diversas enfermedades y tormentos, y a los endemoniados, lunáticos y paralíticos; y él los sanó. 25 Y lo seguía mucha gente de Galilea, de Decápolis, de Jerusalén, de Judea y del otro lado del Jordán.

Tentación de Jesús(A)

Luego el Espíritu llevó a Jesús al desierto para ser tentado por el diablo. Después de ayunar cuarenta días y cuarenta noches, tuvo hambre. El tentador se acercó y le propuso:

—Si eres el Hijo de Dios, ordena a estas piedras que se conviertan en pan.

Jesús respondió:

—Escrito está: “No solo de pan vive el hombre, sino de toda palabra que sale de la boca de Dios”.[a]

Luego el diablo lo llevó a la ciudad santa e hizo que se pusiera de pie sobre la parte más alta del Templo y le dijo:

—Si eres el Hijo de Dios, tírate abajo. Pues escrito está:

»“Ordenará que sus ángeles te protejan
    y ellos te sostendrán en sus manos
    para que no tropieces con piedra alguna”».[b]

—También está escrito: “No pongas a prueba al Señor tu Dios”[c] —contestó Jesús.

De nuevo el diablo lo llevó a una montaña muy alta. Allí le mostró todos los reinos del mundo y su esplendor. Y le dijo:

—Todo esto te daré si te postras y me adoras.

10 —¡Vete, Satanás! —dijo Jesús—. Porque escrito está: “Adora al Señor tu Dios y sírvele solamente a él”.[d]

11 Entonces el diablo lo dejó y ángeles acudieron a servirle.

Jesús comienza a predicar

12 Cuando Jesús oyó que habían encarcelado a Juan, regresó a Galilea. 13 Partió de Nazaret y se fue a vivir a Capernaúm, que está junto al lago en la región de Zabulón y de Neftalí, 14 para cumplir lo dicho por el profeta Isaías:

15 «Tierra de Zabulón y tierra de Neftalí,
    desde el Camino del Mar, al otro lado del Jordán,
    Galilea de los gentiles;
16 el pueblo que habitaba en la oscuridad
    ha visto una gran luz;
sobre los que vivían en tierra de sombra de muerte
    una luz ha resplandecido».[e]

17 Desde entonces comenzó Jesús a predicar: «Arrepiéntanse, porque el reino de los cielos está cerca».

Jesús llama a sus primeros discípulos(B)

18 Mientras caminaba junto al lago de Galilea, Jesús vio a dos hermanos: uno era Simón, llamado Pedro, y el otro, Andrés. Estaban echando la red al lago, pues eran pescadores. 19 «Vengan, síganme —dijo Jesús—, y los haré pescadores de hombres». 20 Al instante dejaron las redes y lo siguieron.

21 Más adelante vio a otros dos hermanos: Santiago y Juan, hijos de Zebedeo, que estaban con su padre en una barca remendando las redes. Jesús los llamó 22 y dejaron enseguida la barca y a su padre para seguirlo.

Jesús sana a los enfermos

23 Jesús recorría toda Galilea enseñando en las sinagogas, anunciando las buenas noticias del reino y sanando toda enfermedad y dolencia entre la gente. 24 Su fama se extendió por toda Siria y le llevaban todos los que padecían de diversas enfermedades, los que sufrían de dolores graves, los endemoniados, los epilépticos y los paralíticos, y él los sanaba. 25 Lo seguían grandes multitudes de Galilea, Decápolis, Jerusalén, Judea y de la región al otro lado del Jordán.

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness(A)

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted[a](B) by the devil.(C) After fasting forty days and forty nights,(D) he was hungry. The tempter(E) came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God,(F) tell these stones to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b](G)

Then the devil took him to the holy city(H) and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,”(I) he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    and they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c](J)

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[d](K)

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan!(L) For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e](M)

11 Then the devil left him,(N) and angels came and attended him.(O)

Jesus Begins to Preach

12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison,(P) he withdrew to Galilee.(Q) 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum,(R) which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill(S) what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
    the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,
    Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people living in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
    a light has dawned.”[f](T)

17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven(U) has come near.”

Jesus Calls His First Disciples(V)

18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee,(W) he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter(X) and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,”(Y) Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.(Z)

21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John.(AA) They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.(AB)

Jesus Heals the Sick

23 Jesus went throughout Galilee,(AC) teaching in their synagogues,(AD) proclaiming the good news(AE) of the kingdom,(AF) and healing every disease and sickness among the people.(AG) 24 News about him spread all over Syria,(AH) and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed,(AI) those having seizures,(AJ) and the paralyzed;(AK) and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,[g] Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.(AL)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 4:1 The Greek for tempted can also mean tested.
  2. Matthew 4:4 Deut. 8:3
  3. Matthew 4:6 Psalm 91:11,12
  4. Matthew 4:7 Deut. 6:16
  5. Matthew 4:10 Deut. 6:13
  6. Matthew 4:16 Isaiah 9:1,2
  7. Matthew 4:25 That is, the Ten Cities

Chapter 4

Jesus Is Tempted by the Devil.[a]Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, after which he was famished.

Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God,[b] command these stones to be transformed into loaves of bread.” Jesus answered, “As it is written:

‘Man does not live by bread alone,
    but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’ ”[c]

Next the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the summit of the temple.[d] [e]Then he said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written:

‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    and with their hands they will raise you up
    lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

Jesus said to him, “It is also written:

‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”

Finally, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their splendor. Then he said to him, “All these will I give you if you kneel down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him in reply, “Depart from me, Satan! It is written:

‘You shall worship the Lord your God,
    and him alone shall you serve.’ ”[f]

11 Then the devil departed from him, and suddenly angels came and ministered to him.

12 Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee.[g]When Jesus learned that John had been arrested,[h] he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Departing from Nazareth, he settled in Capernaum[i] by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 in order that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
    the passageway to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles:
16 The people who lived in darkness
    have seen a great light,
    and for those who dwell in a land darkened by the shadow of death
    light has dawned.”

17 From that day forward Jesus began to proclaim the message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.”

18 Jesus Calls the First Disciples.[j] As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the water, for they were fishermen. 19 He said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately, they abandoned their nets and followed him.

21 As he proceeded farther, he saw two more brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately, they left their boat and their father and followed him.

23 Jesus Proclaims the Message and Heals the Sick.[k] Jesus traveled all throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every type of disease and illness among the people. 24 His reputation spread throughout Syria,[l] and they brought to him all those who were sick, afflicted with various diseases, racked with pain, or possessed by demons, as well as those who were stricken with epilepsy or paralyzed, and he healed them. 25 Great throngs from Galilee, the Decapolis,[m] Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan, followed him.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 4:1 This important passage is again filled with echoes and citations of the Old Testament. The intention is to show the experience and struggles of the Messiah, the new head of the People of God. Just as Moses remained forty days on Sinai, so the Messiah remains forty days in the wilderness (Ex 34:28), forty days being symbolic of a time of preparation for divinely planned activities. Jesus refuses to make use of his miraculous power simply to relieve human need (v. 3f), or to satisfy requests of unbelievers (v. 5ff), or to embrace a Messianic role that would be purely political. The basic theme is the obedience of Jesus to God as he is known through the Old Testament. He rebuffs all three temptations with Scriptural truth from Deuteronomy.
  2. Matthew 4:3 If you are the Son of God: in the sense of the Messianic King of Ps 2.
  3. Matthew 4:4 A citation of Deut 8:3, indicating that the miracles of the Exodus were signs of God’s religious care for Israel.
  4. Matthew 4:5 Summit of the temple: the southeast corner of the wall of the Jerusalem temple, projecting over a ravine.
  5. Matthew 4:6 The devil applies Ps 91:11-12 to the Messiah since it deals with God’s protection of the righteous. Jesus declares (through the words of Deut 6:16) that we should not demand miracles from God as evidence of his care for us.
  6. Matthew 4:10 The citation (Deut 6:13) used by Jesus calls for the basic attitude of worship that everyone should have toward God.
  7. Matthew 4:12 By action and word Jesus inaugurates the kingdom of heaven. The phrase means the kingdom of God, but, like the Jews of his time, Matthew avoids naming God and says, instead, “heaven.” This kingdom or reign is a power that will continue to make its way into the world from now on. Jesus begins his activity in Galilee, a northern province, which some, thinking of Isa 8:23 and 9:1, regarded as the Messiah’s land. It was a region in which different populations and religions lived side by side. The faithful followers of Yahweh, who were pretty much cut off from Jerusalem and its temple, gathered in the synagogues. Different populations, even in the pagan Decapolis (a confederation of ten independent Greek cities, beyond the Jordan), acknowledge the Messiah.
  8. Matthew 4:12 John had been arrested: after John’s arrest (v. 12), Jesus makes Capernaum the center of his activity (v. 13) and preaching (v. 17). The citation from Isa 9:1-2 identifies the ministry of Jesus as fulfilling the prophecy of the restoration of the northern kingdom defeated by the Assyrians in 721 B.C. See notes on Mk 1:14 and Lk 3:20.
  9. Matthew 4:13 Capernaum: on the shore of the Lake (in Hebrew: Sea) of Galilee (v. 18), also known as the Lake of Tiberias or Gennesaret, in territory that had belonged to the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali.
  10. Matthew 4:18 We see the first Church being born; disciples follow the Lord not only to share intimacy with him but to be fishers of men, to be witnesses to him and gather together people in his name—for he is the Messiah. Three of the four (Simon, James, and John) will go on to hold a closer relationship with Jesus (see Mt 17:1; 26:37; Lk 8:51).
  11. Matthew 4:23 As a conclusion to the first part of his Gospel, Matthew gives a summary of Jesus’ ministry, which consisted in teaching, preaching, and healing (v. 23; see also Mt 9:35).
  12. Matthew 4:24 Syria: the area north of Galilee, between Damascus and the Mediterranean Sea.
  13. Matthew 4:25 Decapolis (i.e., the Ten Cities): a league of Greek cities; all were east of the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River except Sythcopolis (Beth Shan).

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

12 Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;

13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

14 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

15 The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.